The story of the Jasmine flower

Sitting in the garden of Brightedge. Underneath the blooming flowers of the bush i grew from a single flower.

I play a song, the same song i sang the moment you drew your last breath. My sweet Jasmine.

Your death was so ugly such a contrast to who and what you were.
I promised to write you a song. I still haven't I can't, not yet. Everytime i recall the events tears well up and my hands start shaking.

When i can play this song without trouble i will write your song.
My sweet Jasmine with her dark brown hair.
Beautiful bright violet eyes. Always a scent of flowers herbs and spices.

It was years ago. I was in shadow. Part of an army my mother had send me to. To train to learn different customs and ways.
I enjoy travel, camping and the comradery that an army can have.

We were posted on a field. Near villages. The lands had been attacked by unknown troops.
Raiders they were usually a group of different types of people races. Possibly from all over shadow.
My comrades called them demons. Heh if they only knew.
But to keep it simple i called them that too.

We could see the raiders coming from vantage points we made. We were quicker to them then they were at the village.

We were stationed there about 2 months the steady stream of raiders had become less and less. Now and then a scout party which we usually dispatched off. Easier that way.

I was posting my duty at the eastern point i had a far sight over the area. The wind was fair so if i saw the raiders i could easily shoot them one by one. My posting was a little ledge we made in a sturdy tree.

I was drawing whatever i saw. I do that often to stay awake and alert.

Suddenly a sound underneath my tree which were not the local animals.
With my bow and an arrow on it ready i looked down.
The fairest creature i had ever seen was standing at the tree looking up. A bright smile which made her eyes shine like polished amethysts.
She held up a basket and gestured up. It was against regulation but my shifts are long and i can still keep watch with company.

I lowered the rope and she climbed up like a cat as graceful.
She spoke soft probably because she too knew this was not allowed and people tend to whisper while keeping watch.

"I've seen you sit here sometimes a full day. I wanted to bring you a cup of tea something to eat. To help you stay alert, and to thank you."

Even if it was hard to keep focus now i trained my eyes to the distance. Although i did steal a peek now and then.
Her smile was infectious.

"Very kind of you, thank you. But you know we act on duty right. There is no need to thank us for doing our duty to which we swore. "

A soft laugh next to me. And she pours tea it is a lovely fragrant tea.
I feel the warmth of the cup near my free hand.

"What is your name? " I ask her with the risk of getting to familiar but what harm can come from niceties.

"Jasmine. Yours?"

"Alex. Well Alexandra but most call me Alex."

I feel her fingers touch my hand. She guides my fingers to the cup of tea.

"It is on its best when hot and try the lavender cake."

Pulling my eyes away for a moment from the distance to look at her. I was struck, by her beauty, her smile, her eyes and the overal energy this lovely creature radiates.

Apparently i was starin as she started to look uncomfortable.

I apologized profusely and went back to watching. But now with a hot cup of tea in hand.

She spend nearly the whole day with me. Near nightfall she returned to the village.

After that every shift she came. Fresh made tea and baked goods.
After a couple of times i asked her "So what do the others think of your tea?"
I fully assumed she did this for the others as well. How wrong i was when i looked at Jasmine her cheeks had flushed red.
I took a slow sip of the tea and put the cup down with a slight grin.

"Ah. I see."

Jasmine began to mutter an apology.
I frowned and looked her straight in the eyes. "Don't apology not to me, i find it actually quite flattering and romantic. "

I wink at her before turning back watching the distance.

I feel her near me, her face is next to mine. She kisses me on the cheek. Surprised i turn my head looking in her enchanting eyes. She kisses me again and return such.
So there we were to young people fallen in love a soldier and a villager. How many stories have been written about this. And how many ended up in drama and pain.

This story is not very different.

It was a year later. We were given the orders to retreat the local forces we had trained were capable of fighting off the fee raiders that dared to come by and there was talk the bigger raiders army had shifted to another border. We had to move out to there.

Jasmine had by now spend also time with me in camp as did others from the village  in such a time you can get really close.
Our superiors didn't really mind as long as we kept alert and did our duty.

I promised Jasmine to return when the army was fought off. At my last watch duty she told me how strange it was the big army moved away this was the easiest and direct route for travellers, caravans, trade and armies. That is why she moved to this village and has her little teashop here. Alot of customers and visitors.

I told her that the generals must know what they are doing and i promised her i would return. And when no longer on duty i will help her in her shop.

We said goodbye for now. She gave me a dried violet jasmine flower. To remember her till we see eachother again.
The scent of the flower did remind me of her everytime.

It still does.

We moved out the camp was quickly broken up and packed. A groul from the village waves us goodbye gave us food and water as thanks.

Not Jasmine. When we marched along the east paths i did see her though on the perch where we usually sat. We looked at eachother and blew a kiss. I was confident i would see her again.

We marched for days. We reached our new destination joined up with a bigger army. We were told where to set up camp and we did.

The first days were mosty preparing and checking our weapons and armor. At day three we were to report at the trainingground for instructions.

They expected the raiders to come this way. Over the west routes.
A nagging uneasy feeling came over me.

They would be overconfident was their hope and guess which would make it easier for us to fight them off.

The barbaric horde was bigger then they had anticipated so that is why we would meet them full force here.

It dawned on me as the general kept talking. We were moved away to lure the horde there. To have them enter there. Yo have them following the routes. They were sacrificing three villages along the way.

I kept my composure at night at the campfire i told a few what my findings were. They had that same uneasy feeling.

I told them i wanted to make sure and look at the plans.
With an excuse of intell and such i invited myself into the command tent. I didn't need to fully see the plans half a gaze at the maps and i saw.

Excusing myself i went to gather my things. My plan was to go alone and warn the village. 8 of my company were there with the nine of us we ran. We ran day in day out. Sparing ourselves little breaks for water and food.

When we came over the first hill we could already smell it. The horrible scent of blood, ash and death.

It was dusk. But the sky was lit up by the burning farms on the outskirts of the village. The village itself was ablaze as well.

Screams of panic, agony, pain and despair were heard. A couple of the soldiers fell to their knees then and there.

The rest of us took up arms and rushed. It was now a matter to safe and protect who we can.

There were not many. A community building was defended by the strong farmers of the land we guided those people out to safety. The soldiers who we left on the hill came and helped them ushering them to a safe spot.

Everytime we found people the barbaric raiders were there as well. Covered in blood sweat and i do not want to think what else we fought true.

Untill a horn sounded in the distance. The raiders stopped. They had plundered the houses, farms and shops.

Some armies supply their troops that way. Over the death of the innocent.

I sought the teashop i had been there several times. But the village looked so different. I found it due to the slight hint of jasmin flowers.

Rushing in i saw a bloodtrail to the back. She had a little garden there.

And that is where i found her. Jasmine underneath her jasmin flowers the beautiful violet petals smeared with blood.
I saw her still breathing and held her close to me.

I told her to hang on. To stay with me i could get her help. I could save her. She only cried. I looked her over. And i saw her wounds being grave. Her body violated.

I cried with her. She wanted me to let her go. She pleaded to let her go to have her pain end. I held her closer. Told her i loved her with all my heart. She kissed my neck and told me the same.
She asked me to never stop singing. To make a song for just her.
I promised.
I sang to her. A soft lullaby till her breathing stopped.

I sat there.
Wrapping her body i tooka bunch of jasmine flowers.

I grabbed one of the horses that was not dying of panic and tied Jasmine to its back and i rode after the horde. They were with many. They can't move fast.

I was surprised.

It took me a full day. I had to move around now and then since i did not want to rush into the back of the horde. I was mad. I was sad but i was not stupid. I alone cannot to do much.

From a hill i could see the extend of the horde. This was huge. It would have been a fantastic painting a horde on one side a bloodsmeared rider with a wrapped body on the other. But for me it was nothing fantastic or poetic. It was the first time truly falling in love and losing her so quick again.

I saw the carts the horde used some people walked alot also on horses.

They were to many and i was not thinking clear. I could never handle this.

I took my bow and arrow. Attached two of the jasmin flowers i raced my horse towards the front of the horde. Aiming i shot the arrow with the flowers to one of the bigger carts. Just in the wood. And i turned and rode off.

They have no clue what this is. But it felt right for me.
I did not return to the army they were no match for the horde
and i had my love to lay to rest.

I never told mom. She might know though, she knows and hears alot. I told her these flowers are important. And that they remind me of a love lost. I never told her the full story.

Maybe i should write that song for you now Jasmine.